investment Milan

After two years of growth, investment purchases cool slightly while maintaining historically strong levels

The Italian real estate market is showing signs of a subtle directional change in 2024-2025.

Following increases during 2022 and 2023, investment purchases now represent 19% of total transactions, a marginal decrease from 19.5% last year, according to analysis from the Research Department of Gruppo Tecnocasa based on transactions completed by agencies throughout Italy.

Though minimal, this decline represents a cooling signal after two consecutive years of growth. From 2012 to 2022, investment purchases consistently ranged between 16% and 18%, making the current level—despite its decrease—still among the highest recorded between 2012-2024. Historical lows were reached during 2014-2015 and again between 2020-2021, largely due to pandemic effects.

Major Cities Continue Driving Investment Activity

Major metropolitan areas maintain their position as investment hotspots, with investment purchases reaching 28.1% of transactions—slightly down from 28.6% in 2023 but significantly above the national average. Naples leads the 2024 rankings with an impressive 38.9% of purchases made for investment purposes, followed by Palermo (36.0%), Verona (32.2%), Bari (30.5%), and Florence (30.3%). Milan and Bologna both exceed the 28% threshold, while Rome (21.5%) and Turin (21%) complete the rankings.

Property Preferences Evolve as Investors Seek Larger Spaces

Two-room apartments remain investors’ preferred choice, accounting for 32.5% of investment purchases, followed by three-room units at 27.4%. Notably, 2024 has seen increased interest in larger properties (four rooms and above) and independent housing solutions, which grew from 13.2% to 13.8% of investment purchases—signaling renewed interest in more spacious and versatile properties.

Investor Profile: Mid-Career Professionals and Families Lead the Market

The typical investor age remains stable, with the 45-54 bracket being most active (27.7%), followed by 35-44 year-olds (22.6%) and 55-64 year-olds (21.8%). Couples and families dominate the investment market, representing 72.2% of investment buyers. Single investors have declined from 30.6% in 2023 to 27.8% in 2024, reversing the growth trend observed in previous years.

Foreign Investors and Financing Options Gain Ground

Foreign investment in Italian real estate continues to strengthen. While international investors represented only 4.1% of transactions in 2019, they now account for 9.5% in 2024, making a significant contribution to the investment segment.

Cash purchases remain dominant at 85.9% of investment transactions. However, mortgage financing has increased to 14.1%, showing recovery after the 2023 slowdown caused by rising interest rates.

Interested in investing in Milan real estate during this peak cultural moment? Contact Columbus International agents at info@columbusintl.com

As the world’s creative elite descends upon Milan this April, explore how the 63rd Design Week is transforming Italy’s fashion capital into a laboratory of innovation, creativity, and future-forward thinking.

When Milan’s Fuorisalone opens its doors from April 7-13, it won’t just be showcasing furniture and lighting. What was once primarily a trade show has evolved into a cultural juggernaut where the boundaries between design, art, technology, and entertainment dissolve completely.

The 2025 edition represents a pivotal moment in Milan Design Week’s evolution, with an unprecedented convergence of disciplines reshaping how we think about design’s role in society.

The New Power Players

The 2025 edition marks a significant shift as major cultural figures from outside traditional design circles take center stage. Academy Award-winning director Paolo Sorrentino transforms pavilions 22-24 at Salone del Mobile into a meditative installation titled La dolce attesa, challenging visitors to experience time differently in our hyper-accelerated world.

Meanwhile, legendary theatrical director Bob Wilson unveils Mother at Castello Sforzesco, a multimedia installation engaging with Michelangelo’s unfinished masterpiece. The piece, accompanied by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s minimalist compositions, exemplifies the cross-disciplinary approach defining this year’s event.

Market Impact: The Business of Design Week

With over 500,000 visitors expected and an estimated €370 million in economic impact for the city, Milan Design Week has become a powerhouse business opportunity. Major brands are investing record budgets into spectacular installations that double as sophisticated marketing vehicles.

This evolution reflects broader shifts in luxury marketing, where experiential activations increasingly outperform traditional advertising in connecting with next-generation consumers.

The Innovation Map: Navigating Milan’s Design Districts

Brera: The Experience Economy Epicenter

With over 300 events scheduled, Brera has emerged as the district commanding the highest square-foot premiums. British artist Es Devlin’s Library of Light at Pinacoteca di Brera demonstrates why: the immersive installation combines cutting-edge projection mapping with physical architecture, creating what will likely be the most photographed design moment of the week.

At Palazzo Moscova 18, digital artist Michela Picchi partners with Glo For Art on a technicolor installation that represents another crucial trend: the gamification of design exhibitions. Visitors don’t merely observe but interact through augmented reality elements that extend the experience into digital realms.

Tortona: The Commercial Innovation Hub

Once an industrial zone, Tortona has transformed into the commercial heart of Fuorisalone, where product launches dominate. Base Milano’s We Will Design program functions as an incubator for emerging talents, while Superstudio Più’s Superdesign Show offers a platform for 70 international designers focused on sustainable manufacturing techniques.

The district serves as an essential barometer for anyone in consumer-facing design businesses, showcasing tomorrow’s retail innovations today.

5Vie: Heritage Meets Disruption

In Milan’s historic center, 5Vie district curates a thoughtful dialogue between Italy’s artisanal traditions and technological innovation. This year’s focus on order and equilibrium manifests in unexpected venues like the INPS courtyard, where Angela Florio’s Metropolitan Jungle explores biophilic design principles.

For savvy collectors, the district offers treasure hunting opportunities in workshops like Laboratorio Paravicini, whose hand-decorated porcelain represents the kind of high-value artisanal investment that’s increasingly attracting wealth management attention.

Beyond the Center: The Innovation Frontier

The most experimental work appears in peripheral districts like Isola, where the Design is Human exhibition examines how emerging technologies are reshaping craft traditions. At Quartiere Stadera, a network of studio visits organized by Vicini di Strada association provides visitors rare access to next-generation creators before they achieve commercial recognition.

Nina Yashar’s influential Nilufar gallery stakes new territory in Via Lancetti with three exhibitions including Silver Lining, a forward-looking exploration of advanced metalworking techniques curated by architecture collective Fosbury Architecture.

The Business Intelligence Takeaway

For business leaders attending Milan Design Week, the key intelligence extends beyond aesthetic trends. The event functions as a laboratory for observing how physical experiences can be monetized in an increasingly digital marketplace, offering strategic insights applicable across sectors from retail to hospitality.

As boundaries between creative disciplines continue to blur, Milan Design Week isn’t just showcasing objects—it’s previewing how we’ll live, work, and interact in the coming decade. For forward-thinking executives, it’s become an essential field research opportunity into the mechanics of desire and attention in tomorrow’s experience economy.

Source: Corriere